Saving the Humanities | Stephen Blackwood | EP 188

This episode was recorded on May 18th 2021.

Jordan Peterson and Dr. Stephen Blackwood discuss his work as a founder of an inner-city youth program and his experience with developing Ralston College in Savannah, Georgia. They have a rich discussion about the philosophical underpinnings of human flourishing, the University and the humanities, the spiritual-intellectual crisis of our times, and more.

Dr. Blackwood specializes in the history of philosophy and dedicates a large portion of his work and studies to the ancient Roman philosopher-poet, Boethius. He was one of the founders of St. George's YouthNet in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is the founding president of Ralston College.

[00:00] Jordan introduces Dr. Stephen Blackwood.
[02:00] Starting off the conversation by talking about the Inner City Youth Program.
[13:00] Asking Dr. Blackwood on the development of his interests into eventual career choices.
[16:30] The start of The Foundation Year Program.
[18:30] Studying Humanities empowers people to make their own larger meaning and could be the most effective way to improve life trajectory.
[26:00] Attacking the idea that all social constructions are just predicated on grabbing as much power as possible.
[43:40] Dr. Blackwood critiques the enlightenment of the postmodernists.
[51:00] Examination of the "Woke" search for meaning. Touching on group ideology.
[1:07:30] Trying to understand when the left goes too far. Power grabbing and setting the moral ground to use your own power and violence to obtain whatever you want.
[1:12:30] How Christianity relates to discerning deeper truths of being.
[1:27:00] The antidote to the spiritual and cultural crisis according to Blackwood.
[1:27:30] Jordan speaks on the intrinsic pleasure of aiding the development of others.
[1:33:30] Blackwood talks about the resources we have to overcome this spiritual-cultural crisis we find ourselves in.
[01:39:30] Jordan asks Stephen to expand on his fascination with architecture as a medium for contemplation of the past with the present.
[01:44:30] The process of creating Ralston College.
[01:50:00] Examining the ways that Ralston College is hoping to shake things up in the world of higher education.
[01:55:00] Wrapping up.

Jordan B. Peterson is a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, a clinical psychologist, and the author of the multi-million copy bestseller 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, #1 for nonfiction in 2018 in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil and Norway, and slated for translation into 50 languages.

Dr. Peterson has appeared on many popular podcasts and shows, including the Joe Rogan Experience, The Rubin Report, H3H3, and many more. Dr. Peterson’s own podcast has focused mainly on his lecture series, covering a great deal of psychology and historical content. Jordan is expanding his current podcast from lectures to interviews with influential people around the world. We hope you enjoy this episode and more to come from Dr. Peterson in the future.

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[pauliewalsh]

Dr Peterson, is it possible you could ever source J.K. Rowling as a guest to discuss your work on the Archetypes and it's correlation to her own literature. Im sure Rowlings recent controversy around the infamous pronoun debate would subliminally fall into the discussion somewhere, however; I'm sure many fans of both your work would set their alarms months in advance to hear you both converse! Would this be possible?

Jordan Peterson is the most brilliant of teachers. Honest and genuine. Bless his heart and soul. He is my favorite mentor.

[research]

Dr. Peterson, As a "so called woke liberal" i don't want to become narrow minded or blind to possible mistakes in my way of believing. I really enjoy your program. You help me to break past the wall dividing right and left political leanings . I want to welcome debate and understanding each other. It is far better than as enemies. Thank you for sharing such deep and challenging topics.

[joybhowmick]

So good to see, Mr. Peterson in good health. Thank you for your services to humanity. ❤️

[conkerlive]

I am in awe of how many people on this earth you have managed to reach out and help. I'm 100% striving to mirrors those traits. Thank you for for everything Mr. Peterson.

[ancientfuture]

As somebody that came from a broken home/environment and had to take on the difficult task of changing my life circumstances and slowly learning that "I matter", this conversation makes me both teary and inspired. Thank you.

[morgansherman]

Happy to see so many grateful and humble comments toward Jordan Peterson. The man is brilliant, should be encouraged and seeing the response of his messages being a motivator to be better people is so refreshing. Just an echo. Thank you.

[politiconvict]

It's so refreshing to see discussion rather than debate.
Observing public intellectuals presenting ideas and discussing those ideas is amazing and becoming increasingly difficult to find that are current or worth spending time listening to.
I have concluded that it's intellectual Humility I find so compelling, it's rare
Intellectuals tend to defend bad ideas, even reprehensible ideas
Dr Peterson is Humble and Honest without a doubt

[owjanshahmiri]

This conversation is so rich that I am going to watch it again immediately.

[unreal]

"Even our betrayals of beautiful things can become deepening engagements with what we have betrayed."

- Stephen Blackwood - 1:23:16

[johnpetten]

When Dr.Blackwood runs with an idea, he is absolutely memorizing

[Trapping_ackbar]

Jordan you’ve inspired me to enter the social sciences even though I have heterodox views. I see you and Haidt as people who are desperately needed in the humanities, corrective forces to an increasingly ideologically homogeneous field. I hope to fill that role too in the years to come. As I’m starting college this week, I just wanted to thank you! Much love from New York!

[nooncecares]

I have been praying for you and your family Dr. Peterson. Listened to Beyond Order again. Still helping me. Struggling uphill and carrying my cross and hoping God is helping you carry yours. ❤🤗🙏🧡

[timothyh]

I loved the course of this conversation, and the humble tone of it. Dr. Blackwood's admission of how the academy has failed reminded me of the most intelligent man I ever met. I was born in 1980 in rural Wisconsin. A neighbor of mine was born in 1898 in Holstein, Germany, and immigrated to the USA with his family in 1913. The man could build anything, fix anything, grow anything. He could answer any question you had about nature (plant, animals, weather patterns, lunar cycles, etc.). As a farmer he was very strong and had excellent agility, even in to his 90's. He fluently spoke German, English, Polish, Finnish and French. He brewed his own beer and distilled his own brandy. He was almost completely self-sufficient. The man was an absolute genius. I loved helping him during harvest season and listening to him speak. He was extremely articulate and well read. That's another thing...he was always reading something. He lived to be 105. Unfortunately, according to the measurement of academics today, they most likely would have labelled him a stupid, white privileged, male patriarchy promoter of oppression. I went on to higher education and in all my time working in IT, finance and education...I still have never met another individual who comes even close to his level of intelligence and competence.

[jjuniper]

I sincerely wish Dr. Blackwood continued success.

[TheGunmanChannel]

I feel lucky to be able to listen to these podcasts while spray painting cars 😜 I don't need a woke university to learn.

[jaime]

Tremendous conversation, I am late to it as I’ve been stuck in the muck of the current madness which keeps me agitated, distracted and angry. By the hour mark I was simply lifted above it, and brought to tears. Thank you both, very much.

[jamesandmichellewolvifarmr]

I have been contemplating Dr Peterson and his role in the world, and I can't help but view him as a messiah. Keep up the tremendous work, humanity needs you.

[coastcity]

In the discussion of architecture and "opening up the horizon, " I was reminded of the scene in Shawshank Redemption, when Andy played a song from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" on the loudspeakers for all the inmates to hear.

"I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free."

[bernardlz]

The ending tale by Dr. Blackwood brought me to tears, I can’t explain it.